Deputy Saves Teen In Speeding Malfunctioning SUV

Deputy Saves Teen In Speeding Malfunctioning SUV

A heroic cop in Minnesota put his own life on the line last month to save an 18-year-old kid, who was driving a runaway vehicle that wouldn’t stop accelerating. 18-year-old Sam Dutcher was driving a malfunctioning 2022 Honda Pilot whose computer had taken over, not allowing any braking.

Sam called his mom, who called 911. The Minnesota State Patrol and Clay County deputies were not only driving beside Sam at this time, they were on the phone with him. They knew they were speeding toward a small town and decided they needed to block off intersections, much like the plot in the 1994 movie “Speed”.

Minnesota State Trooper Zach Gruver knew it was going to come down to crashing the car to stop it. At one point Sam’s car was going 113 mph. With little time left before the road turned into a dirt road dead end, Gruver sped in front of Sam’s vehicle. “I was going 130 mph,” Gruver said. “The (squad) car tops out at 140.” Clay County Deputy Zach Johnson told Dutcher to crash into the back of Gruver’s cruiser. After 20 minutes and 30 miles, the ordeal came to a crashing halt. Sam and his mom got to meet up with Trooper Gruver afterward and thank him.